LQ4 into a 3rd Gen/1972 Nova
I'm pretty sure LS motors are priority main oiling, ya?
Edit: I was wrong. Only the LSx block is a true priority-main system. Quite interesting.
Edit: I was wrong. Only the LSx block is a true priority-main system. Quite interesting.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Block has been tanked and cleaned, bores have been checked and 4.005" will be no problem so my gamble of assuming 4.005" pistons would work ended up ok. Align bore with ARP main studs torque checked out A-ok. The deck however is not flat, not perpindicular to each other, and it appears the heads were removed at some point and the deck was "cleaned" with a 3M Sotchbrite and even that can apparently damage the deck and reduce sealing on these MLS gaskets (which are apparently very sensitive to having a perfect deck surface for good sealing). Machine shop estimates that in the neighborhood of 5-6 thou will need to be removed to make everything perfect, and with 0.051" MLS GM head gaskets, that will bump my compression ratio to somewhere around 9.3:1. A bit higher than I was hoping, but still reasonable for medium boost. Looks like I should be able to pick the block up on Tuesday if all goes well.
Block has been tanked and cleaned, bores have been checked and 4.005" will be no problem so my gamble of assuming 4.005" pistons would work ended up ok. Align bore with ARP main studs torque checked out A-ok. The deck however is not flat, not perpindicular to each other, and it appears the heads were removed at some point and the deck was "cleaned" with a 3M Sotchbrite and even that can apparently damage the deck and reduce sealing on these MLS gaskets (which are apparently very sensitive to having a perfect deck surface for good sealing). Machine shop estimates that in the neighborhood of 5-6 thou will need to be removed to make everything perfect, and with 0.051" MLS GM head gaskets, that will bump my compression ratio to somewhere around 9.3:1. A bit higher than I was hoping, but still reasonable for medium boost. Looks like I should be able to pick the block up on Tuesday if all goes well.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
I've read in several places that sell genuine GM stuff that the LS9 gaskets are 0.051" compressed, so I'm leaning towards believing that. I haven't measured them as they sit, no.
Your shop is working a lot faster than mine! Did you hone the mains or they just checked out fine after torquing the studs? That's a bummer having to deck it. Did they tell you how far out it was? I have never felt more impatient on my project than I am now, waiting for the block to come back from the machine shop. I'm so eager to start assembly it makes my skin crawl just thinking about it. Do you have the tools to blueprint everything?
Finally got to a computer to see you rock that crank around - wow that thing was done for!
Finally got to a computer to see you rock that crank around - wow that thing was done for!
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
The mains checked out fine after torquing the studs. He didn't say how far out it was.. more like "won't be certain how much needs to be removed until we start at the lowest corner on the lowest side and work our way forward, but it should be 3-4 thou, max 5-6 thou".
And yea.. the crank was messed. Super messed. Guess it makes sense where all the oil pressure was disappearing off too
And yea.. the crank was messed. Super messed. Guess it makes sense where all the oil pressure was disappearing off too
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
I've received a couple questions about my seatbelts and the relocate bracket to put the shoulder point in a more useful location than way up and back on the headliner. Here is a PDF of what I made, it should print out 1-to-1 but if not, has all the dimensions necessary.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
stock oil filters usually have a bypass built in. They usually bypass on cold start. Make sure and check the CHRA as mentioned earlier. And your current turbo is already too small for a 6.0.....
Nothing wrong with running that TC76 for now.
It will start to choke the motor at the higher R's...but it should spool very very fast.
Upgrade to a PTE7675 next year ...more turbine wheel so less restriction.
It will start to choke the motor at the higher R's...but it should spool very very fast.
Upgrade to a PTE7675 next year ...more turbine wheel so less restriction.
I'm so pissed - my block has been at the shop for a month and a half and still not done. Probably was cleaned and rerusted by now. You are in for a fun labor day weekend. I'll bet you get it assembled before the weekend is out.
wow just took the last 5 hours and went threw your entire thread from 1 to 50 and all i can say is, that it is an amazing piece of art that you have built.. that is the mona lisa of novas..
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,034
Likes: 663
LOL. Sometimes I get busy and lose track of cool builds like this , TSnows', & Furturusers'. I tend to bug these guys via PM instead. So sorry guys LOL
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Hah thanks for the compliment quickkris, but I wouldn't go so far as to say mona lisa. Just a lot of fab work to make it function neatly, and look accordingly industrial.
In other news, it's ready to go back in, just awaiting the return of my engine hoist that i lent to a friend.
In other news, it's ready to go back in, just awaiting the return of my engine hoist that i lent to a friend.